Kinship Care FAQs
What is Kinship Care?
In Maryland, Kinship Care is designed to preserve family ties by assisting when possible with the needs of children, the biological parents and the relative providing 24 hour care, 7 days per week to the child. There are two categories of Kinship Care: Formal and Informal. In the case of Formal Kinship Care, the child has come to the attention of the State and is now in the custody of the State but is placed with a relative. In Informal Kinship Care, the child’s parent(s) voluntarily placed the child in the care of a relative by blood or marriage. Legal custody is not required.Do I Qualify as a Kinship Caregiver?
A Kinship Caregiver is related by blood or marriage within five degrees of consanguinity or affinity to a child who is in your physical care.What Benefits are Available?
- As a Maryland resident and relative caregiver you can apply on behalf of the child for cash assistance referred to as a “child only” grant. This grant is based on the child’s resources only.
- Click on Kinship Care Fact Sheet pdf for additional information.